Andrews full of affection for Dons

Keith Andrews says it felt like Christmas morning when his move back to stadiummk was finally completed on Deadline Day.

Just hours before the close of the transfer window, the Dons were able to seal a deal to see their former captain return to the Club on loan until the end of the season from Bolton Wanderers.

“It’s probably been the worst kept secret in football,” Andrews told Dons Player. “I’ve been heavily involved in the last few weeks in an unofficial capacity, meeting the lads, building relationships with them - I’ve really enjoyed that.

“Now it’s obviously time to try and do a little bit on the pitch. I haven’t been able to train with the lads but I have been working hard on my fitness and trying to get up to match speed.

“I’m just over the moon that it’s finally been able to get sorted. I’m just itching to go and itching to play a part in anyway shape or form - it feels like Christmas morning, it’s fantastic.”

The move sees Andrews return to the Club which he made 87 appearances for and led to both Johnstone’s Paint Trophy success and the League 2 title in the 2007/08 campaign – the Dons’ most successful season to date.

“I think everybody knows how much this Club means to me and the affinity I have for the Dons and the fans - I’ve always kept in touch with everybody here. I’m the type of person that will never forget anything that someone does for me, so if there was ever a chance to repay the Football Club for what they did for me, I was going to do so.

“(My first spell here) was a real turning point in my career and it gave me the platform to go on and play at the level that I did. They were amazing times for me and the Football Club, with the trophies that we won and the promotion obviously - they are some of the best memories I’ve had in my career.”

Andrews joins at a time when the Dons are sitting second in the Sky Bet League 1 table, just two points adrift of first-placed Bristol City, whom Karl Robinson’s men face this Saturday at stadiummk.

And the Republic of Ireland international, who scored the goal which secured the Dons’ promotion from League 2 in 2008, has a good feeling about what the team can achieve in the second half of this campaign.

“I can sense something special happening at the moment. We’re in a good position in the league and the camaraderie, togetherness and spirit amongst the players elides the obvious talent that they have. The manager, the coaching staff and the backroom team have a real hands-on-deck approach too and I genuinely have a good feeling about this.

He added: “I’m here to every single thing I can, on and off the pitch, to get this club promoted. I’ll be looking to push everybody, myself included, to get to where want to be at the end of the season and hopefully I’ve already played even a small part in that, in the last few weeks.”

Andrews could make his debut on Saturday when the Dons host Bristol City in a first versus second clash at stadiummk - tickets are priced at £20 for adults, £15 for over-65s, £6 for under-18s and FREE for under-12s!